Device for locating shipwrecks.



No. 807,915. PATENTED DEC. 19, 1905. O. J. DURHAM.

DEVICE FOR LOGATING SHIPWRBCKS.

APPLIGATION FILED JUNE 6,1904.

3 SHEETSSHEET 1.

No. 807,915. PATENTED DEC. 19, 1905.

' G. J. DURHAM.

DEVICE FOR LOGATING SHIPWRBCKS.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 6. 1904.

3 SHBETSSHEET 2 PATENTED DEC. 19, 1905.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

w E 1% R G. J. DURHAM.

DEVICE FOR LOGATING SHIPWRBOKS.

APPLIOATION FILED JUNEG 1904 \T E55 E5 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 19, 1905.

Application filed June 6, 1904. Serial No. 211,327.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CLARENCE J. DURHAM, M. D., acitizen of the United States, residing at Muskegon, in the county of Muskegon and State of Michigan, have invented a new and useful Device for Locating Shipwrecks, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to the adaption of a buoy or similar device so designed as to be easily displaced from the boat, and means whereby same is attached thereto. I attain these objects by the mechanisms illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1, Sheet 1, is a side elevation of the construction complete. Fig. 2, Sheet 2, is a view of device attached to sunken ship. Fig. 3, Sheet 2, is a section on the line 00 {0, Fig. 1, Sheet 1. Fig. 4: is a detail view of Whistle, Fig. 1, shown in part section on line 00 m, Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is an end view of 3, Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is a sectional elevation of 3 and A on the line a a, Fig. 4. Fig. 7 is a section of part 6 on the line .2 a, Fig. 4:.

Similar characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

In Fig. 1 two forked standards L and L, secured to the vessels decks, support the buoy in a horizontal position by retaining the ends of buoy between the forks, thus providing a rigid support to prevent the tossing of the ship from unseating the said buoy and also providing a construction not interfering with the ascension or release of buoy in case of the vessel sinking. A steel cable attached to the vessel in a substantial manner is supported by the buoy and in a manner whereby the danger of the cable becoming caught in wrecking is obviated. In case of vessel sinking the buoy rises from its position between the supports L and L and rises to the surface, then one end of cable being retained to deck of vessel, while the other is connected to pivoted yoke I by ring K, serving as a mark for the later location or recovery of vessel. The buoy may be constructed in any desirable manner, as shown in Fig. 1.

A hollow cylinderD is capped with conical end piece P, which rests between the forks of the supports L and L. The end of one of said pieces is closed by an auxiliary cap B,

having a connection R, to which the whistle A is attached to, as hereinafter described. To the extremity of the outer end piece P is riveted a tube or pipe G, having an enlarged terminal F, adapted to secure an additional compression area. The other extremity of tube G is connected to B, this forming an open air-passage through F Gr B and the hollow recess of R to 6, Fig. 7, Sheet 3.

The nozzle 6 of whistle A, Fig. 7, supports a vibrator-shell 3, provided with a vibratortongue 4, and also serving as a standard for retaining the resounding-chamber 2, which is bound in place by the lock-nut No. 1. A sliding sleeve 5 is so arranged that when submerged in water will rise and close the mouth of whistle and prevent water from entering at same time, not interfering with action of said whistle or diminishing the reverberation of sound.

Upon the sinking of the vessel the buoy rises to the surface and is connected to said sunken vessel by means of steel cable attached to a rocking yoke 1, which allows of the buoy adjusting itself to the vertical position. Upon the rising of a wave the weight of said cable retains the buoy in practically constant position, while the water rising higher upon the buoy compresses the air in tube G P F, forcing air through the whistle, causing a deep reverberation. After the passing of wave the buoy again assumes a position of equilibrium with regard to water, and air is drawn into the tube G to be expelled by the repeated action of following wave.

What I claim is* 1. In a device for locating shipwrecks the combination of an annular buoy member detachably secured to any convenient portion of vessel, means for the reception of a cable or rope wound upon the exterior portion of said buoy member, with one extremity of said cable fastened to vessel, and means whereby the other extremity is retained to buoy member, substantially as described.

2. In a device for locating shipwrecks the combination of an annular buoy member detachably secured to vessel means for the reception of a cable wound upon the exterior, retaining said buoy to vessel; said buoy member provided with an inward-extending compression-chamber whereby the action of waves compresses air in said chamber, substantially as described.

3. The combination in adevice for locating shipwrecks, of an annular buoy member provided with an inward-extending compressionchamber means whereby said buoy member is removably secured to vessel by the escape of the trunnions from the standards, andprovided with means for the reception of a cable wound upon the exterior of said buoy and a whistle actuated by air compressed within said compression-chamber substantially as described.

4. The combination in a device for locating shipwrecks of an annular buoy member, secured to vessel by acable wound upon the eX- terior portion in normal position; and provided with an inward compression-chamber having the submerged end open, and means whereby the air compressed by the action of 1 waves, passes through a whistle adapted to produce a reverberation of sound whereby'the location of said buoy may be ascertained, substantially as described.

CLARENCE J. DURHAM. Witnesses: O. S. 'HOPPERSTEAD, S. K. URMSTON. 

